... CD

Stunning stuff – the final volume in this massive collection of Bobby Bland's sublime recordings for Duke Records! CD

Includes 50 tracks on 2 CDs! CD

A decade's worth of amazing music from the legendary Bobby Blue Bland – a singer who already hit his peak on these sublime early sides for Duke Records! There's never been anyone like Bobby Blue Bland – especially at this point in his career – never a straight jazz singer, and instead a vocalist who could dig deep into his roots, but find a way to forge them to a hipper, jazzier current – one that carried Bland strongly from the 50s R&B generation well into the world of 60s soul – and which still continues to make him one of the true standout artists of his generation – and one of the few that nobody else can ever even think of copying! This package is one of the best we've ever seen to focus on Bland's work of the period – with 26 tracks, and a great set of notes that really illuminate the material – a classic set of titles that include "I Pity the Fool", "Cry Cry Cry", "Back in the Same Old Bag Again", "Sometimes You Gotta Cry a Little", "These Hands", "Ain't No Telling", "Chains Of Love", "Back In The Same Old Bag Again", "That Did It", "Shoes", "Don't Cry No More", "Ain't Nothing You Can Do", "Two Steps From The Blues", "Share Your Love With Me", and "Turn On Your Love Light". CD

... CD

Features Dr. John on piano and organ! CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Big Mama Thornton, Marie Adams, Johnny Ace, Big Walter, Junior Parker, Bobby Bland, Norman Fox and the Rob Roys, the Original Casuals, the El Torros, James Booker, Joe Hinton, and more – 16 tracks total. (Soul, Blues) CD

(Funky 45's, Blues) 7-inch, Vinyl record

(Funky 45's, Blues) 7-inch, Vinyl record

(Funky 45's, Blues) 7-inch, Vinyl record

(Funky 45's, Blues) 7-inch, Vinyl record

(Funky 45's, Blues) 7-inch, Vinyl record

(Funky 45's, Blues) 7-inch, Vinyl record

(Funky 45's, Blues) 7-inch, Vinyl record

(Funky 45's, Blues) 7-inch, Vinyl record

(Funky 45's, Blues) 7-inch, Vinyl record

(Funky 45's, Blues) 7-inch, Vinyl record

To us, most of Bobby's early Duke albums would serve fine as "best of" sets in and of themselves – so great is his work for that label during this period! This one's a pretty great sampling of his genius – that unique blend of blues and soul that still makes Bobby's work sound fresher than most of the hackneyed, over-played work by other singers of the time. 12 tracks in all, including "Poverty", "I Smell Trouble", "Some-Day", "I'll Take Care Of You", "I Pity The Fool", "Cry Cry Cry", "Turn On Your Love Light", "Call On Me", "Ain't Nothing You Can Do", "If You Could Read My Mind", "Farther Up The Road" and "Stormy Monday". CD

More excellent early Bobby Blue Bland material, with stellar arrangements by Joe Scott that mix soul, blues, and a slight bit of jazz to create the unique style that made Bobby's work unlike that of anyone else. The LP includes such classics as "The Playgirl", "I Can't Stop", "Back In The Same Old Bag", and "Too Late For Tears" – but the whole thing's pretty darn great! LP, Vinyl record album

A great two-in-one set from Bobby Bland! CD

An incredible record from Bobby Blue Bland – and quite possibly the greatest one he ever made! The set's got an amazing something special that's unlike most other material of the time – a bit blues, but a lot of soul too – still with some echoes of R&B in the jazzier charts used for the backdrop, but presented with a rock-solid style that definitely points the way towards many sounds and styles to come in the 60s. And although Bland recorded many of these tracks as separate singles, there's a way they're put together here that makes the whole thing sound completely marvelous together – a really well-conceived track list that shows that Bobby's an even greater artist in the space of a full record. The arrangements are perfect, and Bobby's rough soulful voice is blended in this amazing way with killer horn arrangements that are far more sophisticated than most stuff that ever came after this, and which never get in the way, but only back up his deep emotion. The album's a motherlode of classics by the man, with gems that include "Two Steps From The Blues", "Cry Cry Cry", "I Don't Want No Woman", "I'm Not Ashamed", "Don't Cry No More", "Lead Me On", and "I Pity The Fool". And hell, even his version of "St James Infirmary" is pretty wonderful – something we never thought we'd say about that song. LP, Vinyl record album

An incredible record from Bobby Blue Bland – and quite possibly the greatest one he ever made! The set's got an amazing something special that's unlike most other material of the time – a bit blues, but a lot of soul too – still with some echoes of R&B in the jazzier charts used for the backdrop, but presented with a rock-solid style that definitely points the way towards many sounds and styles to come in the 60s. And although Bland recorded many of these tracks as separate singles, there's a way they're put together here that makes the whole thing sound completely marvelous together – a really well-conceived track list that shows that Bobby's an even greater artist in the space of a full record. The arrangements are perfect, and Bobby's rough soulful voice is blended in this amazing way with killer horn arrangements that are far more sophisticated than most stuff that ever came after this, and which never get in the way, but only back up his deep emotion. The album's a motherlode of classics by the man, with gems that include "Two Steps From The Blues", "Cry Cry Cry", "I Don't Want No Woman", "I'm Not Ashamed", "Don't Cry No More", "Lead Me On", and "I Pity The Fool". And hell, even his version of "St James Infirmary" is pretty wonderful – something we never thought we'd say about that song. CD

(Funky 45's, Blues) 7-inch, Vinyl record

A set that features great early Junior Parker material, recorded during his years on the soulful powerhouse Duke Records! Titles include "Goodbye Little Girl", "My Love Is Real", "I'm Gonna Take A Chance", "It Ain't Like That No More", "If You Can't Take It", "What Kind Of Love", "Today I Sing The Blues", and "Little Old Lover Me". LP, Vinyl record album

(Funky 45's, Blues) 7-inch, Vinyl record

Four fantastic albums from Bobby Bland – all brought together in a single package for the first time! First up is Come Fly With Me – great work from Bobby Blue Bland – one of the few artists to rise up at the end of the 50s, and still find a way to chart their own path forward in soul with fresh material like this! Bobby's voice is still incredible here, and he works with production from Al Bell and Monk Higgins, the latter of whom arranged – in this cool style that's a bit like some of the territory that Tyrone Davis was taking on at Columbia Records during the second half of the 70s – fuller arrangements that bring some sophisticated soul touches to the music, but in ways that never lose the core of Bobby's genius! Titles include "Lady Lonely", "Night Games", "You Can Count On Me", "Love To See You Smile", "Come Fly With Me", and "To Be Friends". The next album is I Feel Good I Feel Fine – and Bobby Bland sounds pretty good too – thanks to arrangements from the great Monk Higgins, who does a perfect job of mixing Bland's trademark vocals with some sweet late 70s arrangements! The sound is upbeat, but never in a cliched disco mode – more in the territory that you'd hear Johnnie Taylor using over at Columbia Records – maybe a good comparison, given the Memphis roots that both artists shared – as both also evolved a lot to shift their sound with the changing modes of the time. And as with Johnnie, Bobby never loses the core that makes him great – as you'll hear on titles that include "Tit For Tat", "Soon As The Weather Breaks", "In His Eyes", "Someone To Belong To", "I Feel Good I Feel Fine", and "Little Mama". Sweet Vibrations is a real gem from the start of the 80s – arranged by Monk Higgins, who co-produced the set with Al Bell – a duo who'd already given Bobby some great records before, but who really knock it out of the park with this one. There's an extra-special quality going on here – maybe a slight reintroduction of blues roots, but still with a very contemporary spirit – set up to superb backings throughout. Titles include "Soul With A Flavor", "Hollywood Woman", "You'd Be A Millionaire", "Sweet Vibrator", "Special Kind Of Fool", and "A Real Woman Is What It Takes". Try Me I'm Real is record with a title that certainly fits the bill – as the amazing voice of Bobby Bland is as real here as it ever was, and blended with superbly soulful backings that take the singer's sound forward for a whole new generation! Some of Bobby's contemporaries were content to just stick in a straight blues mode – but Bland really grew and developed a lot as an artist, thanks in part to Monk Higgins and Al Bell – who are both at the production helm of the record, and balance the bluesy roots of Bobby with some richer soul backings that really knock the whole thing out of the park! We love Bobby Blue Bland during his early Duke Records years – but we love him equally as much for music like this, on titles that include "But I Do", "What A Difference A Day Makes", "Givin Up The Streets For Love", "A Song For You My Son", "Just You Just Me", and "Love Is Where It's At". CD

A record with a title that certainly fits the bill – as the amazing voice of Bobby Bland is as real here as it ever was, and blended with superbly soulful backings that take the singer's sound forward for a whole new generation! Some of Bobby's contemporaries were content to just stick in a straight blues mode – but Bland really grew and developed a lot as an artist, thanks in part to Monk Higgins and Al Bell – who are both at the production helm of the record, and balance the bluesy roots of Bobby with some richer soul backings that really knock the whole thing out of the park! We love Bobby Blue Bland during his early Duke Records years – but we love him equally as much for music like this, on titles that include "But I Do", "What A Difference A Day Makes", "Givin Up The Streets For Love", "A Song For You My Son", "Just You Just Me", and "Love Is Where It's At". LP, Vinyl record album

Sure it's not his Duke recordings, and sure, the sound's a bit 70s-ish – but Bobby's voice is always fantastic, and he still sounds great in this smooth batch of tracks recorded in LA. Backings were arranged and conducted by Michael Omartian – but it's Bobby's vocals that really make the set shine. Titles include "Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City", "The End Of The Road", "I Ain't Gonna Be The Fist To Cry", "Dreamer", "Who's Foolin Who", "Cold Day In Hell", "Lovin On Borrowed Time", and "Yolanda". LP, Vinyl record album

A classic album from the early years of soul music – the only full length set ever served up by the great Joe Henderson – a vocalist with roots in the legendary Fairfield Four gospel group, but sounding equally great here in a secular mode! The arrangements are by Cliff Parham, and they've got this blend of bluesy vocals and jazzier backings – in a style that's very much like the best Duke/Peacock work of the time – with a spectacular focus on Joe's voice in the lead! The whole album's great, filled with unusual material – with titles that include "Sad Teardrops At Dawn", "Right Now", "Big Love", "Just Call Me", "Snap Your Fingers", "After Loving You", and "If You See Me Cry". (Soul, Blues) LP, Vinyl record album

A really unique album from the great John Lee Hooker – done for the mostly-soul Wand Records label, and with a feel that's quite different than some of Hooker's other records! There's a distinctly jazzy undercurrent running through the record at times – sometimes with some moody, soulful elements bubbling underneath John's lead vocals and guitar on the mellow tracks – or at other times with a fuller sense of arrangements, a bit like you might find on 60s work on the Duke/Peacock label blues sessions. Hooker's in fine form throughout – and seems to open up nicely in the setting – and a few tracks are a bit more stripped-down, with a slightly rootsy feel. Titles include "Don't Want Nobody Else", "Crazy Mixed Up World", "Little Dreamer", "Seven Days", "Don't Be Messing With My Bread", "Storming On The Deep Blue Sea", and "Lost Everything". CD

An excellent album of bluesy soul by Little Johnny Taylor – not to be confused with Johnnie Taylor, who later sang for Stax! This Johnny's got a style that's a bit bluesier, set up here in some nice larger arrangements that make the album feel like some of Bobby Blue Bland's best work for Duke back at the same time. Johnny's voice is incredible – much better than on his later records – and titles include "You're The One", "As Quick As I Can", "She Tried To Understand", "You Gotta Go On", "Part Time Love", and "Stay Sweet". (Soul, Blues) LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Vess Ossman, Bert Williams, Al Jolson, Mammie Smith, Sissle & Blake, Kid Ory, Jelly Roll Morton, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Red Nichols, Duke Ellington, Ethel Waters, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday & more. CD

One of the most important indie labels of the postwar years – heard here in a flurry of great tracks that really show them at their finest! This excellent double-length set brings together magical moments from a time when the Flair imprint was really hitting on all burners – recording key vocal, instrumental, blues, and doo wop tracks that would go onto have a huge impact on generations to come – mixed here with a host of titles that haven't been on CD before! The package digs deeper than any look at Flair we've ever seen – and that's saying a lot, given that Ace Records was already giving the label their due a few decades before – and all the new material sits strongly next to classics that make the 50 track collection one of the best R&B collections from the 78rpm era that we've heard in a long long time. Titles include "She Wants To Rock" and "Getting High" by The Flairs, "Loosely" and "Cuban Get Away" by Ike Turner, "Chop House" by Blinky Allen, "Quit Hangin Around Me" by Saunders King, "Early In The Morning" and "Can't Stop Lovin" by Elmore James, "Hello Baby" and "Baby Beat It" by Big Duke, "Midnight Hours Journey" by Johnny Ace, "Night Howler" by Billy Gale, "You Better Hold Me" by James Reed, "I've Got The Feeling" by Baby Parham, "This Time It's Real" by Ricky & Jennell, "Send Him Back" by Shirley Gunter, "An Angel Cried" by Anna Marie, "Blue Mambo" by Bobby Rey, and "Love Me Love Me Love Me" by The Chimes. (Soul, Blues) CD

A stunning tribute to the great Alan Lomax – the legendary musicologist, historian, and recording engineer who captured so many wonderful American sounds in the 20th Century! Lomax's work has been crucial to both the Library Of Congress and Smithsonian/Folkways Records – yet there's also a fair bit that has never seen the light of day before – amazing recordings that make up a surprisingly large part of this box set – which compiles work in many different styles recorded by Alan in the field – blues, folk, gospel, and global modes, plus compelling regional genres – all presented here in a special 6LP set. The box features 55 never-issued tracks, and lots more great ones too – with music by Shirley Collins, Fiddlin Joe Martin, Compagna Sacco, Calvin Frazier, Sonny Boy Williamson, Jelly Roll Morton, Ernest Williams, Neal Morris, Skip James, Son House, Elmer Barton, Brendan Behan, George Sea Island Singers, Big Bill Broonzy, Elizabeth Austin, Jean Ritchie, Bascomb Lamar Lunsford, Bessie Jones, Duke Of Iron, Charles Barnett, and many others. The box features a nice booklet of notes, too – and some rare photos from the archive! (Folk/Country, Blues) LP, Vinyl record album